Graeme McDowell has been voted ‘Professional of the Year’ in the Irish Golf Writers’ Association awards for 2013, sponsored by Carr Golf Group.

The 34-year-old Ulsterman was a multiple winner on tour last year, when he captured the RBC Heritage tournament on the PGA Tour and added the Volvo World Matchplay championship and Alstom French Open titles on the PGA European Tour.  

Paula Grant (Lisburn Golf Club) has been voted ‘Women’s Amateur of the Year’ and  Robbie Cannon (Balbriggan Golf Club) has won the ‘Men’s Amateur of the Year’ award.

Paul McGinley, the first Irishman to be elected captain of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, will the recipient of the ‘Distinguished Services to Golf’ award, which will be presented at an awards function in Portmarnock Golf Club in March. 

A week after missing the cut at the US Masters, McDowell bounced back with a play-off win over Webb Simpson to claim the Heritage tournament in Harbour Town and then brought that form with him across the Atlantic where he defeated Tahiland’s Thongchai Jaidee in the final at Thracian Cliffs in Bulgaria.

McDowell added the French Open title to his season’s collection when he was a four stroke winner over runner-up Richard Sterne. 

Paula Grant, a student at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown, had a magnificent season in which she won the Irish Ladies Close championship at Ballybunion to add to her Irish Intervarsity championship and R&A Scholars Foundation successes. She also finished runner-up in the Irish Women’s Open Amateur Strokeplay championship. 

Robbie Cannon showed skill and fortitude to claim the Irish Amateur Open championship at Royal Dublin Golf Club, which gave the former South of Ireland champion his biggest success to date. A career amateur, 34-year-old Cannon, beat defending champion and Walker Cup player Gavin Moynihan and Scotland’s Graeme Robertson in a play-off to claim the coveted trophy.  

Paul McGinley will be recognised by the IGWA for his outstanding contribution to Irish golf at the awards dinner on March 6th. A three-time winner of the Ryder Cup as a player, McGinley – a four-time winner of the Irish PGA championship – has, throughout his career, offered great support for the development of junior golfers in Ireland. 

The recipients will receive their awards, which have been specially designed by Tipperary Crystal, at an Awards Dinner, sponsored by Carr Golf Group, to be held at Portmarnock Golf Club.  Notes 

The Irish Golf Writers’ Association (IGWA) was founded in 1976 and hosts an annual awards dinner to honour the Professional Player of the Year, the Women’s Amateur Player of the Year, the Men’s Amateur Player of the Year and a person who has been deemed to have made an outstanding contribution to golf in Ireland.

 +++ 

Carr Golf Group operates four divisions: Carr Golf Travel, Carr Corporate Events, Online Golf Travel and Carr Golf Services.

Founded in 1990, Carr Golf Travel has grown to become Ireland’s leading inbound golf tour operator. Through an in-depth knowledge of golf and working with only the finest partners in the industry, Carr Golf Travel offers the ultimate golf travel experiences and these golf travel destinations, particularly golf in Ireland and Scotland, are the veritable treasure chests, playing host to a range of luxury resorts, the finest Links golf courses, world class Spas and much more.

Carr Golf Travel has been assisting clients from all over the world in the delivery of unique golf outings and has handled groups of over 1,000 people as well as large events such as the Ryder Cup.  Carr Corporate Events, with its highly experienced and dedicated team, caters for the corporate and incentive business. We distinguish ourselves through an acute attention to detail in terms of the needs of our clients. Whether it’s a reward based incentive for your top sales people or a corporate meeting of key executives, we appreciate that every client has different and unique needs.

Our strength lies in understanding your requirements and our focus is on meeting and surpassing your expectations in every respect. In this manner we have attracted an exclusive client base, including NBC Sports, UBS, Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, KPMG and CNN to mention but a few. Carr Golf Services is a leading provider of business solutions to the golf industry. Leveraging our extensive knowledge of the Irish, European and US golf markets, we have undertaken several management and consultancy contracts.

Recent clients include Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa, Zala Springs Golf Resort and White Oak Golf & Equestrian Community. Along with golf development and marketing consultation, we are in the business of managing golf courses and clubs. In 2006 over 325,000 satisfied golfers played golf on facilities under Carr Golf Services management.

We are confident we have the expertise required to bring together different elements of a marketing mix which will accurately portray the totality of the offering and encourage customers to use the facilities we manage. Online Golf Travel offers tailored golf vacations throughout Ireland and Scotland.

As part of the Carr Golf Group we can call on over 17 year's experience of creating ultimate golf vacations on these islands. We offer a first-rate golfing experience from arrival to departure combining the leading Irish Golf courses and links of Scotland with accommodation of your choice as well as taking care of your transport needs.  

+++

Tipperary Crystal is a market leader in high-end design and excellent quality, creating contemporary and classical collections in Irish Crystal. Established 28 years ago by master craftsmen Joe Foley and John Meagher, the company has become recognised for its uncompromising commitment to superb design and high quality product and has pioneered a winning strategy of innovation through design.

The heritage of Irish crystal making dates back to the mid 18th century when the Penrose brothers set up their crystal factory in Waterford in southern Ireland. The same techniques that were used then are still used today to create beautiful treasures to be cherished and admired. These specialist skills and techniques have been passed down through generations and are still utilised by our modern day master craftsmen who are responsible for the production of these luxurious crystal products.

Tipperary Crystal works with renowned crystal Designers and the finest Master Blowers and Cutters in the world. Modern and classical designs are brought to reality by these highly skilled craftsmen using traditional techniques. The product range includes exquisitely designed and handcrafted pieces that bring a sense of luxurious elegance to both traditional and contemporary settings.

Tipperary Crystal is quickly becoming a global brand. Recognition as an innovative leader in design and quality has led to worldwide demand. Tipperary Crystal was the first Irish crystal company to recognise the potential of combining contemporary design with the ancient craft of crystal making when it collaborated with fashion icon Sybil Connolly on an exclusive collection for Tiffanys in the early 1990s. That innovative and pioneering spirit is still very much a part of what we do today.